The U.S. Department of Energy selected a Boise State-led team to begin negotiations for a $1.9 million award to create a hub for Idaho Clean and Resilient Energy Siting Teams. The hub will connect Tribal, state and county governments in Idaho with the resources needed to make community-driven and fact-based energy infrastructure planning and siting decisions. It will leverage existing expertise, develop needed resources and offer unbiased technical assistance to communities across Idaho.
Stephanie Lenhart with the Energy Policy Institute is the principal investigator for the three-year project. Co-principal investigators are Stephanie Witt with the School of Public Service and Matt Williamson with the School of Environment. Boise State will provide a neutral institutional home for a hub that is supported by core partners at the Tribal, state and county levels. The Idaho Tribal Nation Research Network, the Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Idaho Association of Counties will serve as trusted points of contact and connections to additional resources and expertise.
“This opportunity is important for Idaho and for advancing decision-making on clean and resilient energy,” indicated Kathy Araujo, director of the Energy Policy Institute. “With rapid energy growth and changing conditions, decisionmakers at all levels are pressed to strategically evaluate their priorities and resources.”
Southern Idaho is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country and is experiencing a increased interest in wind and solar development. The pace and scale of these project proposals are challenging Idaho’s current siting processes and require more coordinated planning and capacity building. Most Tribal, state and county agencies in Idaho have limited experience with large-scale energy projects.